Improved mode of obtaining motive power from petroleum and other oils



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

ROBERT D. MGOREARY, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED MODE 0F OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM PETROLEUM AND OTHER OILS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 70,732, dated November 12, 1867 To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT D. MCGREARY, of Oil City, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Process for ObtainingMotive Power from Oil; and I declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the same, sufficient to enable any one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to use the same.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a reservoir or tank for the reception of crude petroleum or some product thereof, placed in suitable proximity with a generator, to which the oil may be supplied by a pump and conducting-pipes.

My peculiar process consists, first, in evolving, in gaseous form, by the application of a moderate degree of heat, the more volatile and deleterious parts of the oil; second, in conducting these gases to a cylinder or other engine to use them as motive power; third, in conveying the spent gases into the furnace, and using them as fuel;fourth, in removing the oil from the generator in an improved condition, or before its lubricating or illuminating properties, or its market value for refining or other purposes have been impaired by too great evaporation; fifth, I also employ an additional conducting-pipe to convey gas directly from the generator to the furnace, to supply the latter while the engine is at rest.

My invention does not depend on any peculiar construction of generator or engine. Many of the common forms of steam-generators and steam and air engines are applicable, though some peculiarities of construction maybe found desirable in applying the process in different ways or to various uses.

The employment for fuel of gas naturally evolved from petroleum at its normal temperature is well known. I have discovered, by practical experiment, that by applying a sufficient degree of heat to evolve the lighter or more volatile portions of the oil, and thereby improving the condition and market value of the oil, I am enabled to produce sufficient power to drive an engine of similar construction to the steam and caloric engines now in common use, and that after use in this way to work the engine the gas furnishes more than sufficient fuel to supply the furnace by which the heat for generating the gas is produced.

It will be manifest that the lighter or more volatile oils can be made to furnish a greater proportionate quantity of gas than others; and it will also be understood by those'familiar with the production, sale, and use of this class of oils that the oil is rendered much more valuable for refining, illuminating, lubricating, and other purposes; and as these deleterious parts are all that I employ for power and fuel, the power is acquired without cost.

The lighter oils, after having been relieved of their more volatile parts, as above specified, will be more valuable for refining than crude oil of the same gravity.

Any suitable safety-valve and conductingpipe may be used to convey to a safe distance or location surplus gases which are not needed for combustion in the furnace; or the surplus gases may be used for. other heating purposes, or, by the aid of many of the well-known materials or apparatuses for carbureting, may be adapted for lighting locomotives, cars, ves-' sels, and manufactories, or other buildings.

A valuable feature of my invention consists in the perfect lubrication which is afforded to all parts of the engine by gases evaporated from oil at moderate temperature.

Some of the distilled or other products of petroleum, or even other oils, may be used in place of crude petroleum.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- p 1. The process herein described of producing motive power from oil without wholly destroying its lubricating or illuminating properties, or its value for refining or for other purposes.

2. The combined process of partially evaporating oil to obtain motive power without destroying its valuable properties, and using the resultant gases for fuel or illumination after their expansive force has been, or partially so, spent in driving the engine.

' R. 1). MQOREARY. Witnesses:

OOTAVIUS KNIGHT, J.'E. M. BOWEN. 

